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JULY 2007
JUNE 2007
MAY 2007
APRIL 2007 (winner announced!)
July 2007 WINNER!
 Hi Nellie,
A speaking association you can contact is www.nsa.com (National Speaker’s Association) where you can locate the closest chapter to you. Speakers are always on the lookout for fabulous facilities as well as alternatives they can present to their clients for training.
Purchasing ads in other e-zines/newsletters is also cost -effective and efficient. You can specifically target your audience and if its an on-line newsletter a link will go directly back to your site.
And I lovvvvvvve postcards! Invite a select group of companies to host a specific tele-seminar for their clients as a client reward. Make sure the card is funky and fun and promotes exclusivity.
JULY 2007 Dilemma
Nellie Lamers of Reeds Spring, Missouri writes:
The Tri-Lakes TCRC is one of 10 Telecenter Network sites in Missouri. Our greatest benefit is in bringing education and technology to rural areas that otherwise would not have access to it. We need help getting folks to sign up for classes/events and telling people about the other things we offer:
ITV (Interactive Video Teleconferencing) services
Degree programs/classes from other colleges/universities across the state that give people in our rural area the chance to take those classes without traveling the great distances to the campuses
Continuing education programs for law enforcement officers, emergency medical providers, etc.
Training events given by University of Missouri Extension specialists as well as other providers
Free public access computers
Computer classes on topics like Microsoft Office and eBay. tutoring sessions
We also rent the facilities to people in the community who need a place to do presentations.
Our website is at telecenter.missouri.edu/reedsspring
Can your Hounds offer some ideas that will help us spread the word?
Answers:
Kim Duke (The Sales Diva) Says:
Hi Nellie,
A speaking association you can contact is www.nsa.com (National Speaker’s Association) where you can locate the closest chapter to you. Speakers are always on the lookout for fabulous facilities as well as alternatives they can present to their clients for training.
Purchasing ads in other e-zines/newsletters is also cost -effective and efficient. You can specifically target your audience and if its an on-line newsletter a link will go directly back to your site.
And I lovvvvvvve postcards! Invite a select group of companies to host a specific tele-seminar for their clients as a client reward. Make sure the card is funky and fun and promotes exclusivity.
Good Luck!
Dawn Lanier Says:
Hi Nellie!
What a great service you provide - way to go! I think you have many no cost/low cost options for creating buzz about your center. Try these:
Visit the websites of your local news stations. Most of them will have some type of ‘community’ page where you can post your info for free
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Use www.craigslist.org to advertise it all over Missouri and surrounding areas
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Put an ‘addthis’ widget on your site so that visitors can bookmark you in the online social networks (www.addthis.com)
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Identify information sites, portals, businesses, organizations, etc in/around your local area. See if they’d be willing to link to your website, mention the Center in their newsletter, blog about you, etc.
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Locate ‘distance learning’ sites that allow you to post what you have available.
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Contact your local cable station(s). Many of them give free time on their community access channel to non-profit and/or educational institutions
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Do an online press release accenting the benefits to your end customer of using your center’s resources
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Find a local reporter to write your story. Maybe even set up a tour of your facility and invite the public and the press
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Connect with your land-based business community (chamber of commerce, freelancers and consultants alike) to pump up the volume on your rental space - that could generate a lot of extra revenue
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Use your existing network (partners, mailing list, the university) to help you pass the word. The alumni network could be a good resource too.
Hope that helps!
JUNE 2007 WINNER!
WINNER: Stephanie Calahan
I am interested in talking to you regarding your products as well as articles for newsletters. I would like to know more. The buttons on your “contact us” page do not work. You can reach me through our web site.
Also check out Joan’s post for the media listing for Alex that has a listing of media contacts that would be right in line with what you are selling. http://publicityhound.net/index.php/new-age-self-improvement-mind-body-soul-radio-show-database/
JUNE 2007 Dilemma
Elaine Solart of Skull Valley, Arizona writes:
I need help with getting the word out about Heartaculture, a specific way to make every choice aligned to the heart in order to lead a more fulfilling and productive life.
You hear "follow your heart" but no one tells you how to do it. Everyone can do it no matter where they are in their lives, but most people continue to do things daily they do not want to do. Depression and illness is the too frequent result.
I need ideas for my national campaign to have the concepts of Heartaculture known in every household:
- Specific contact information for all editors online, or offline who would be interested in an article or interviews.
- Specific radio and TV contacts for talk or interviews
- Contacts for organizations that need speakers for self-empowerment/spiritual growth
- Contact information for joint venture partners or organizations where Heartaculture books, CDs, ebooks, could be a bonus
- Any other great ideas for promotion.
My website is at www.heartaculture.com
RESPONSES
- Jennifer Says:
June 6th, 2007 at 2:33 am
How about creating a pitch letter centered around a holiday or
season? For instance, for October and Sweetest Day (or Valetine’s Day), you
could write a pitch letter to the media with ideas, such as:
“Putting the ‘heart’ back into Sweetest Day and Every Day” An introspective
look into how to follow your heart.
“Follow Your Heart 101″ You hear ‘follow your heart’ but no one tells you
how to do it. Elaine Solart, Heartaculture Expert, shares tips and insights
into following your heart, just in time for Sweetest Day.
“Heartaculture: the New Frontier”: A discussion on what heartaculture is, how
it began and why people have latched on to it.
- Lara Says:
June 6th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Hi Elaine,
I’m not 100% sure but I think this magazine might be interested in
your teachings:
http://www.goodlifedenver.com/
Good luck! Keep spreading a terrific message.
All the best,
Lara
- Stephanie Says:
June 6th, 2007 at 4:53 am
Ellen -
I am interested in talking to you regarding your products as well as articles
for newsletters. I would like to know more. The buttons on your “contact us”
page do not work. You can reach me through our web site.
Also check out Joan’s post for the media listing for Alex that has
a listing of media contacts that would be right in line with what you are
selling. http://publicityhound.net/index.php/new-age-self-improvement-mind-body-soul-radio-show-database/
To your success!
- Margaret Vos Says:
June 6th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Valentine’s Day 2008!!! What a great new angle for what can be a
very depressing day - you could give tips for avoiding being lonely (not
alone!), how to give to others and expand your heart on this very specific day
- the possiblities abound. Print mags and papers might already be planning
their issues, get in quick with your pitches to them. Good luck.
- Doris
Jeanette, Psy.D. Says:
June 12th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I suggest you write articles showing people what you do and how it
is different from anything else. Post your articles on your web site and other
people’s web site. Don’t forget the blogs.
By the way Joan, your idea of using Google alerts to post comments
was brilliant. Thank you so much.
MAY 2007 Dilemma
California Household Labor Website Needs Promotion Ideas
 Kare Anderson of Sausalito, California writes:
I am a friend of Jenna Raby, co-founder of the company Labor Fair, an online referral community of reliable, quality workers for all on-demand household labor. Consumers get free, real-time access to hundreds of local worker profiles, pictures and professional references. And consumers connect directly with already available, qualified but underemployed workers.
For the first time, time-pressed consumers have a fast way to find reputable household help online (cleaning, repair, gardening, childcare, etc.) through LaborFair. It just launched in 15 San Francisco Bay Area cities, from San Jose to Sausalito.
By paying LaborFair just $15 a month for a listing, workers can bypass costly (for them) and time-consuming neighborhood flyer distribution or agency representation that cuts deeply into their take-home pay. Better than Craigslist for this service, think of LaborFair as an Ebay for household services, with fair trade built into the business.
Can your Hounds think of ideas for promoting this service throughout California?
RESPONSES
Biana Babinsky writes:
One of the great promotional techniques for this type of service is local search engine optimization. Local search engine optimization is the same as the regular search engine, but with a local twist put on it.
When you use local search engine optimization, instead of optimizing for just “plumber services” you will optimize for “plumber services Sausalito”. Of course you will need to optimize on different locals in CA.
Doing this will help you bring exactly the traffic you are looking for, which is local California traffic.
For more information on search engine optimization, read my article “Basics Of Search Engine Optimization” at www.avocadoconsulting.com/articles/
Shel Horowitz writes:
When Kare asks a favor, I try to help—she gives so much! I strongly recommend her “Say It Better” newsletter, which I’ve been reading for 10 or 12 years.
A couple of things come to mind:
- Spend some time with Celebrate Today (John Kremer’s event list) and Chase’s. I’m betting you could find 50 or more events that would be easy to piggyback on.
- Kare, you’re extremely skilled at forming partnerships that help everyone. Who could partner with such a service? Real estate agents, neighborhood associations, local environmental groups, many others.
- This story should be sexy to the media, including both general and trade. A few among many possible story angles: a leg up for the workers, referral network helps self-employed people find work, helps busy affluents meet their domestic needs, alternative to icky temp agencies, whole stronger than its parts, etc. I’m tired and not fleshing this out too well–these need to be played a lot more dramatic than I’m giving you–but you should be able to run with a few of these.
Garthgibsondotcom writes:
My first thought is that these folks are independent workers not part of an established company therefore i’m not sure how many home owners would hire them direct from a website unless they have some really special skill so… thinking most of their business will come from
Somebody Who Knows Them Who Knows Somebody Who Wants Them,
Why not start an affiliate program so those people that refer these workers get paid for the referral seems they might be more motivated to drum up business.
You might want to focus on churches and the like as they problem are already referring amongst members for house work needs but now they and the church could get paid for it.
Maybe an easier search to find workers might be by their language skills, English only, Spanish Only, Bilingual or by skill level with certain tools.
Individually these workers should habitually contact their own network of friends and relatives for their WHO DO YOU KNOW THIS straight out of the MLM book.
As PR goes maybe as part of membership each members agrees to provide 10 hours of community service to religious orgs, the elderly or Habitat for Humanity fixing up as needed.
Kelly says:
Show before and after pictures on the site—pictures speak louder than words.
Maybe you could get a group of them together in each town to work on a habitat for humanity, fix a library, home repairs for an elderly couple in exchange for putting out lawn signs.
APRIL 2007 WINNER!
Ciara Daykin Says:
March 28th, 2007 at 2:20 am e
Hi Felicia,
As a wedding planner I know all about registries and I have some tips . . .
- You need a media kit on your website. You need to tell the media why they should write about your company. I’m working on my own right now too.
- You don’t mention any of the press you have already received on your website or link back to the blogs that mentioned you.
- I am pretty computer saavy but I know a lot of women who are not. You ask women to highlight the url of the product they like and then click back to your registry and paste the link there… my mother would give up. Is it possible to get this step down to one click?
- Give the press and your consumers an angle to remember you by… as soon as I saw your site I thought of the Sex and the City episode where Cari’s shoes get stolen at a baby shower and she registers at Manola Blahnik for new ones and after a series of events her friend goes and buys them for her. Give us a story on your home page to draw us in- you should almost switch your home page story with the one you have in About Us. It’s more compelling.
- Don’t exclude married women… they know the benefits of registering for gifts as they just went through it with their weddings. Husbands rarely know what to get their wives and probably wouldn’t mind a little advice. And there is a great press release for Valentine’s or Christmas . . . “Finally Husbands Know What To Get Their Wives!.
APRIL 2007 Dilemma
How to promote an online gift registry for single women
 Felicia Coley of Rochester, New York writes:
Over the holidays, I launched The Well-Heeled Society. It’s the first online gift registry that’s exclusively for single women.
With us being the ‘it girls’ thanks to the backlash of The New York Times quoting the U.S. Census, which clumps 15 year-olds and up into our ‘eligible single status’, I have received local news coverage, one radio spot in California and some blog references.
However, I have not been able to break into national media. Any advice from the Hounds would be appreciated.
RESPONSES
Leslie of Vancouver BC writes:
You should so to Shecky's Girls Night Out Events and "work it!" This is the greatest female gathering out there. 12 cities, 4000 women per event. Everyone goes there. Lovebulbs opened 2 weeks ago at the first Girls Night Out in NYC! Best of luck to you.
Jennifer Raath writes:
I would use the angle of "Sex in the City" to promote your website. Have you seen the episode where Carrie registers for shoes because she asks why a single girl can't register for the fun stuff (like baby showers)? This might be a great way to grab the attention of national media—somewhere along the lines of "The Well-Heeled Society picks up where Sex in the City left off" I think it would be a great tie in.
Rekaya Gibson writes:
I sign up for gift registries all the time. It has nothing to do with being single. It has everything to do with the items I want from my favorite stores. Promote the great items women can register for versus the idea of registering for items because we are single. After all, married women might enjoy these items too.
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